Recently, a friend of mine used a saying to describe the itch you get to dance the whole night away. It came up the morning after partying while talking in the early daylight before we got our routine bagels. She said it so casually, but I took it to heart as well as to the notes app on my phone. She called it “The Dance Bug” like you’ve been infected with the flu, but for moving and grooving on the dance floor. It was the perfect term for that feeling. Something you can’t get rid of. The only way to put it at ease is to spend your night shaking your hips and singing old Justin Bieber songs with your closest friends like you’re at Coachella.
This all got me thinking about other sayings my friends use, throwing them around daily like common knowledge even when I’ve never heard them before. Phrases that have become perfect sayings in my book. I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites that I’ve heard over the years. Some that make me smile and others that make me think the generational swag gap is too distant. I mean, I just used one: “Swag gap,” the seemingly perfect description for one’s age and “cool scale.” A term used for describing the difference between two people’s so-called aura, how they dress, what their interests are, what their pop culture knowledge consists of, and even their confidence. Whether they’re old sayings or ones people in my life have just come up with, here’s some of my favorites.Â
- “Water off a Duck’s Back”
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An easy breezy saying for letting go of worries that don’t really matter. Life will be what we make of it, so we might as well just let it happen. Similar to the classic “it is what it is” but more aesthetically pleasing and less repetition and tautology.Â
- “Beating a Dead Horse”
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A classic saying I’ve used many times since coming to college. For when you keep bringing up a topic that has been discussed too many times before. The emotions remain so you might as well talk it over again, even if you’ve already had the exact conversation.
- “Poison Rotten”
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A saying that came to my friends after trying some awful candy. We now use it to describe anything that is unappetizing or tastes bad. It makes a bad situation funny and alleviates the sadness that appears when your snack is no longer delicious.Â
- “Hold your Horses”
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This is a beloved saying my dad likes to throw around. It’s for relaxing other people when they jump the gun or are too anticipatory about something. I often get told this phrase when I’m excited about something and can’t wait patiently. It’s also the perfect answer to a handful of questions, an equivalent to “calm down” or “wait a minute.”
- “Put Your Patience Pants On”
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Similar to the last one, this is also for telling someone to calm down. Often used in my life when I’m working with kids or being bombarded with questions from my friends. But, most of the time I’m on the receiving end of this saying…
- “I Know Your Heart/ You Know My Heart”
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I think this may be one of the most perfect sayings for truly understanding another person. I’ve used this with my friends when it comes to a multitude of occasions. For example: when someone suggests your favorite food for dinner unexpectedly or when you say something truthful and someone is in full support of you.Â
- “A Little Bit Beautiful”Â
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This one is for those everyday wins. It could be how you are feeling in an unexpected selfie or a moment from your day. Kinda like rose/bud/thorn icebreakers but instead a small positive moment. I’ve used it for checking in with friends or reflecting on something that’s exciting in a simple everyday way. Not meant to be dramatic, just a simple sweet reflection.Â
As I reflect on my favorite sayings to date, I hope you reflect on your own favorites. Who knows what sayings you’ll hear, sometimes you’ll tag along and start using it daily. I think they make conversations more interesting, memorable, and precisely capture a moment. These so-called “perfect sayings” have become classics in my book…and hopefully yours too!